NEW YORK -- Nationals right-hander Joe Ross continued to show that he has a bright future. During Washington's 3-2 loss Saturday, Ross gave the Mets a battle, pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six.

One problem, though. Mets first baseman Lucas Duda hit two mammoth home runs against the right-hander. The second one tied the score at 2 in the seventh.

NEW YORK -- The Nationals received great news on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field before their 3-2 loss to the Mets. Center fielder Denard Span participated in baseball activities for the first time since being placed on the disabled list on July 10 because of back tightness.

Span took 30 swings off a tee and then played catch in the outfield without any problems. Span doesn't know when he will return to action, but the big test will come when he starts working out at Nationals Park next week. Span is still trying to strengthen his back and abdominal muscles, which were surgically repaired during Spring Training.

Ross solid, but Nats' lead over Mets shrinks to 1 game

8/1/15: Ian Desmond hits a two-run single to center off Jacob deGrom to open the scoring in the top of the 1st inning

By Anthony DiComo and Bill Ladson
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MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- A billboard greeted fans coming off the Grand Central Parkway on Saturday, trumpeting Yoenis Cespedes' arrival in Queens. But it was an old face, Lucas Duda, who almost single-handedly lifted the Mets to a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Nationals, moving New York within a game of first place in the National League East.

Before the second-largest regular-season crowd in Citi Field history, Duda hit a pair of solo homers to make up a two-run deficit, then laced a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth. He now has eight home runs in his last seven games, including two off Nationals starter Joe Ross.

Nationals turn to Zimmermann in finale against Mets

7/22/15: Jordan Zimmermann pitches seven solid innings, allowing only three runs on seven hits and striking out six batters against the Mets

By Joe Trezza
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MLB.com |

Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard and Nationals righty Jordan Zimmermann face off Sunday at 8:08 p.m. ET at Citi Field, where the new-look Mets look to earn a share of the National League East lead in the finale of a pivotal three-game series.

Strong starting pitching, good defense and a flair for the dramatic fueled the first two games of this series, both of which the Mets took by one run. Wilmer Flores' walk-off homer didn't just lead New York to a storybook win in extras Friday, it ensured they didn't waste a brilliant start by Matt Harvey.

NEW YORK -- The Nationals' offense has struggled against the Mets in the first two games of an important three-game series this weekend. In those two games, the Nationals scored a combined three runs and went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

In Saturday's 3-2 loss to New York, for example, it looked like the Nationals were going to break things open early as they scored two runs in the first inning off right-hander Jacob deGrom. Ian Desmond highlighted the inning with a two-run single.

Addition of Papelbon bolsters 'pen, while key players return from DL

NEW YORK -- A few weeks ago, the Nationals were in first place and general manager Mike Rizzo said the team wasn't perfect. It didn't help that the bullpen was inconsistent and several of the club's major players were on the disabled list.

A couple of hours after the non-waiver Trade Deadline passed on Friday, Rizzo said he is happy with the team that he has assembled after acquiring closer Jonathan Papelbon on Tuesday in a trade to strengthen the bullpen, combined with Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman all coming off the DL.

Nats drop opener to Mets on walk-off HR in 12th

7/31/15: Yunel Escobar charges a grounder off the bat of Wilmer Flores, barehands it and throws to first for the out

By Anthony DiComo and Bill Ladson
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MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- Two days after Wilmer Flores became a national sensation for his bare emotion, openly weeping on the infield dirt because he thought he had been traded, Flores' walk-off homer lifted the Mets to a 2-1, 12-inning win over the Nationals on Friday night.

A spirited Citi Field crowd of 36,164 gave Flores standing ovations for his defensive work in the first inning and his RBI single in the fourth, then serenaded him as he rounded the bases in the 12th. The win moved the Mets within two games of the first-place Nationals in the National League East.

Harper ejected after striking out in 11th inning

NEW YORK -- Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper can get heated when he's upset, and it showed during Friday's 2-1 loss to the Mets.

With the score tied at 1 in the 11th inning, Harper was called out on strikes against New York reliever Hansel Robles. Harper immediately started yelling at home-plate umpire Jerry Meals. A few seconds later, Harper was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Nationals left-hander laments not being able to go deeper into game

NEW YORK -- Left-hander Gio Gonzalez labored during the Nationals' 2-1 loss to the Mets on Friday night. Gonzalez had a tough time throwing strikes, needing 105 pitches to record 14 outs with four walks, but he kept the Nationals in the game by only allowing one run.

His worst inning was in the fourth. Gonzalez walked three batters, limiting the damage to one run, but he was gone an inning later. Gonzalez didn't figure in the decision after Yunel Escobar tied the game at 1 in the eighth inning with a single to center, scoring pinch-runner Danny Espinosa.

Storen, agent meet with Rizzo to discuss role

NEW YORK -- Soon after the Nationals landed in New York on Thursday night, reliever Drew Storen and his agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, met with general manager Mike Rizzo to talk about Storen's future with the club, Van Wagenen confirmed to MLB.com.

The meeting occurred two days after the Nationals acquired Jonathan Papelbon to serve as the team's closer, bumping Storen to a setup role. Storen is having the best year of his career. Entering Friday's action, he had a 1.64 ERA and 29 saves. Since the acquisition of Papelbon, Storen has been lights-out, pitching two shutout innings and striking out four batters as the eighth-inning reliever.

New Nat Papelbon saves Scherzer's 11th win

7/30/15: Jonathan Papelbon strikes out Michael Morse, completing a 1-2-3 9th inning for his first save with the Nationals

By Bill Ladson and Steve Wilaj
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MLB.com |

MIAMI -- All of the Nationals' offense in Thursday's series finale against the Marlins came on one swing of the bat -- a Ryan Zimmerman home run -- and that's all Max Scherzer needed. The All-Star right-hander tossed seven strong innings and allowed just three singles on 109 pitches as Washington downed Miami, 1-0, at Marlins Park to take the three-game series. Nats closer Jonathan Papelbon, acquired in a deal with the Phillies on Tuesday, earned the save in his first outing with Washington.

The win was a bounce-back effort for Scherzer (11-8, 2.22 ERA), who allowed five runs to Pittsburgh last Friday. The righty struck out six and stranded the tying run on second in each of his final two innings, posting his sixth scoreless start of the season.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats. Steve Wilaj is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

After one of his worst starts of the season, on Friday against the Pirates, Scherzer (11-8, 2.22 ERA) regrouped with seven scoreless innings, walking a season-high three batters while striking out six.

Strasburg likely to need one more rehab start

MIAMI -- The Nationals are planning another rehab start next week for right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who struck out five and allowed three runs on four hits over four innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday night.

Strasburg, on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, is expected to pitch five innings next week before returning to the Nationals' rotation, according to manager Matt Williams.

MIAMI -- Left fielder Jayson Werth was out of the starting lineup -- given a routine day of rest -- as the Nationals closed their series against the Marlins with a 1-0 win on Thursday afternoon. The club is letting Werth take it slow after he missed two months with two small fractures in his left wrist.

Clint Robinson got the start for the Nats, hitting cleanup, in place of Werth, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth and lined out to third base. Werth played all nine innings of the Nats' win on Wednesday night.

MIAMI -- Propelled by two towering Bryce Harper home runs for his National League-leading 28th and 29th blasts of the year, the Nationals beat the Marlins, 7-2, on Wednesday night at Marlins Park to even the three-game set. Harper's first homer to right field came in the fifth inning and broke a 2-2 tie to back a strong outing from starter Doug Fister.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler took the loss in a rare rough outing at home. The righty entered having allowed just nine earned runs in 48 1/3 innings this season at Marlins Park (1.68 ERA), but Washington got to him for five earned runs on six hits in six innings.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats. Steve Wilaj is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MIAMI -- A day after agreeing to a trade to the Nationals, new Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon said he felt free and is starting a new life with his new team. As he put it, he gave up $2 million to win and be at a place where he is happy.

Papelbon is having one of his most productive seasons, going 17-for-17 in save opportunities with a 1.59 ERA with the Phillies. The veteran said he is having a great season because he has learned how to pitch. He no longer can blow hitters away like he did during his days with the Red Sox, but he said he has learned "how to read swings" and throw fewer pitches per inning. Papelbon is one of the few players on the Nationals with World Series experience.

MIAMI -- Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper offered his Babe Ruth impression on Wednesday night, hitting two Ruthian clouts in a 7-2 victory over the Marlins. Harper went 3-for-4 with the two homers, which were his National League-leading 28th and 29th of the season.

After striking out in the first inning on a fastball against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler, Harper made adjustments in the later innings and became a monster at the plate.

Storen perfect in first outing since losing job

MIAMI -- Nationals reliever Drew Storen lost his closer's job after the team's new acquisition, Jonathan Papelbon, arrived Wednesday afternoon. Later that night, getting demoted had no effect on Storen on the field in a 7-2 victory over the Marlins.

Storen pitched one shutout inning in the eighth and struck out Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Not bad for a guy who hasn't pitched since last Wednesday. The performance shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Storen was a setup man at this time last year before becoming the closer in September.

Strasburg allows 3 runs in 4 innings in rehab start

MIAMI -- Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left oblique, pitched in a rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse in an 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night.

Strasburg pitched four innings, allowed three runs on four hits and struck out five batters. All three runs came in the second, but he managed to strike out the side in the inning.

MIAMI -- During his rehab stint with Triple-A Syracuse recently, Nationals veteran outfielder Jayson Werth was impressed with what he saw from shortstop Trea Turner, the Nats' No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com.

Werth noticed that Turner is fast and his bat makes a loud noise that one only hears in the Major Leagues.

MIAMI -- Not that Jose Fernandez is too shabby on the road, but home certainly has been where the wins are for the Miami ace. The right-hander, despite not being his sharpest, gave up one run with five strikeouts in six innings on Tuesday night in the Marlins' 4-1 win over the Nationals.

With the victory, Fernandez improved to 4-0 on the season and 15-0 in his career at Marlins Park. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1900, only Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980-82) have started their careers winning more consecutive decisions than Fernandez. They each won 16.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast. Steve Wilaj is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Nats get Werth, Zimmerman back from DL

Duo combines for three hits in return; club looks forward to seeing full lineup

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Werth singles in return from DL 0:22

7/28/15: Jayson Werth hits a single in the 8th inning of his first game back after a long stint on the disabled list

MIAMI -- The return of left fielder Jayson Werth and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the disabled list on Tuesday didn't ultimately produce enough runs in the Nationals' 4-1 series-opening loss to the Marlins.

Still, manager Matt Williams looked at the positives as Zimmerman went 2-for-3 with a double and Werth went 1-for-4.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats. Steve Wilaj is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Stammen named Bob Feller Act of Valor Award nominee

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The award honors the legacy of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who fought for the U.S. military. (Getty)

By Andrew Simon
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MLB.com |

The active Major League players and Hall of Famers nominated for the 2015 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award were revealed Tuesday.

The award, now in its third year, honors the legacy of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who became the first professional athlete to enlist in the U.S. military after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. A current MLB player, a Hall of Famer and a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer are recognized each Veterans Day in a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.

If we had to pinpoint the one theme of this 2015 season that stands out above all others, it's unquestionably the dominating impact and the infusion of youth on the Major League scene. Never was this more evident than on Monday night when 23-year-old Cubs rookie Kris Bryant cracked his first career walk-off homer into the Wrigley Field bleachers to give the Cubs a dramatic 9-8 win against the Rockies.

And just an hour or so before Bryant's blast landed, the mere suggestion that the Dodgers might consider trading 24-year-old Yasiel Puig turned social media upside down.

Ross comes up on the short end of duel with Bucs' Cole

PITTSBURGH -- All-Star right-hander Gerrit Cole picked up his Major League-leading 14th win of the season, as the Pirates beat the Nationals, 3-1, at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.

A day after the Nationals pounded out nine runs on 14 hits, Cole limited Washington to one run on seven hits while striking out eight over 7 2/3 innings. He lowered his ERA to 2.24, the third-lowest mark in the National League.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. John McGonigal is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Ross continues to show he belongs on big league stage

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Ross' seven strikeouts 1:10

7/26/15: Joe Ross strikes out seven and walks one over six innings of three-run ball against the Pirates

By John McGonigal
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MLB.com |

PITTSBURGH -- With Stephen Strasburg (left oblique strain) slowly regaining his health, Joe Ross' spot in the Nationals' rotation may be nearing its expiration date. But he's taking advantage of each Major League start, looking like a seasoned veteran in the process.

The 22-year-old rookie's composure was showcased yet again in a 3-1 series-finale loss to the Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park. Ross, in his fifth career start, dealt with conviction -- yielding three runs but just five hits, while needing only 78 pitches to complete six strong innings.